Heading to Europe? Important new rules UK travellers need to know when the entry-exit system begins

The EU has brought in new changes at the border, which will affect any UK travellers visiting countries in the European Schengen area. 

These changes, which are called the ‘entry-exit system’ (EES) will begin from 12 October 2025. 

The new checks will be introduced in all 29 Schengen countries, including popular holiday destinations Spain, France and Italy. This does not include Ireland or Cyprus. 

EES will affect all non-EU passport holders, including those who hold British passports. But if you have an EU passport, the EES rules will not apply to you.

The new system is not the only thing changing about travel to Europe. From the end of 2026, the Etias visa waiver will also be launched, meaning the cost of entry to Europe for millions of travellers will be €20 (£17).

In the meantime, if you’re travelling to or from Europe from 12 October when new EES rules come in, here’s what you need to know for a hassle-free trip.

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What happens at the border with EES?

The new digital entry-exit system will require all non-EU passport holders, including those with British passports, to be fingerprinted and photographed at border control. 

This can be completed at an automated kiosk or by a border officer when arriving overseas at airports, and for Eurostar/Eurotunnel and at the Port of Dover, before leaving the UK. Travellers will also have to answer questions about the length of their stay and whether they have enough money to fund their trip. 

When does EES begin?

12 October is a progressive start date. There will be a gradual launch of different parts of the biometric system in case of technical issues (which could lead to long queues). Therefore, not all your biometric data will necessarily be collected immediately when you travel from 12 October 2025. Passports will continue to be stamped as usual until the full implementation from 10 April 2026. 

Faro Airport has already begun to phase in the system. It will now let Brits use e-gates to try to speed up long waits (in some instances up to three hours) for manual passport checks on arrival. Despite this, you will still need to get your passport stamped manually until the EES is officially rolled out.

Do I have to do anything for EES?

No, apart from checking your passport validity and that you’re following the 90/180-day Schengen rule (you can't stay in the Schengen area for more than 90 days in any 180-day period).

The UK government confirmed on 9 September that there’s no advance registration or paperwork needed before you travel. But it’s worth allowing extra time for your journey, following the UK government’s warnings about possible disruption and delays.

For example, you may have to wait longer than usual to exit the airport when booking transfers, car hire or other onward travel.

I’m travelling in October — will I be held up by EES?

If you’re travelling from 12 October, you should allow more time for your journey, according to the Home Office.  It has warned that EES checks, which will take place when travellers arrive at the EU border, may take slightly longer than previous border checks. Travellers are likely to feel the impact as soon as the system begins. The UK Home Office’s warning explains:

'EES checks will take place upon arrival at the EU border and may take slightly longer than previous border checks…Whilst checks should only take 1-2 minutes for each person, they may lead to longer wait times at border control upon arrival in the Schengen area.'

A UK government spokesperson said:

'While we have done everything we can to ensure the required infrastructure is in place, anyone who is planning a trip to the European mainland once these checks are introduced will still need to allow more time for their journey as the new EU systems bed in.'

The government has also warned that at juxtaposed ports — meaning where checks take place in the UK before departure — there might be longer waits during peak times, but that 'Eurotunnel, Eurostar and the Port of Dover have plans in place to minimise disruption as much as possible.'

 What is the new entry-exit system? How will it work?

When the EES officially begins, non-EU citizens, including British travellers, will need to be fingerprinted and/or have a facial photograph taken the first time they cross the border into the Schengen zone for short stays. This information will be stored in a digital file and verified by border guards whenever you cross the border again in future.

As this is a progressive roll-out, different European countries will introduce different parts of this process in different phases. 

The European Commission has confirmed that until April 2026, your photo and fingerprints may not necessarily be collected at every border crossing, and your information may not necessarily be registered in the system. Passports will also continue to be stamped as usual until April 2026. 

When fully rolled out, the EES will replace passport stamping and will help the EU to more closely track whether travellers are respecting the EU’s 90/180-day rule. This rule means British travellers cannot stay in the Schengen area for more than 90 days in any 180-day stretch.

The system, which has been postponed several times, will eventually require British travellers to have all biometric information (both fingerprints and face scans) checked every time they enter any of 30 European countries for a short stay. Children under 12 will be exempt.

Weeks prior to the originally planned introduction of the EES, we carried out a survey that showed huge confusion about what it would entail.

What is the EES app, also known as the Travel to Europe App?

The EU has created an app called Travel to Europe that allows travellers to pre-register their passport information and facial image before arriving at border crossing points. It's not yet available for download, and the UK has not confirmed whether it will participate in using this app as part of entry/exit border controls. 

 How will EES affect travel by Eurostar and Eurotunnel?

According to the UK government website, Eurostar, Eurotunnel and Port of Dover will have kiosks at their locations to register passengers before their journeys.

However, it has also warned of delays caused by EES across airports, the Eurotunnel, Eurostar and Port of Dover in a Home Office statement.

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What is Etias, and how will it work?

Another change British travellers should prepare for is the introduction of the European Travel Information and Authorisation Scheme (Etias), otherwise known as a visa-waiver scheme.

When it kicks in, which is not expected until late 2026, holidaymakers will need to apply online and pay a fee of €20 (around £17) before travelling. The authorisation is expected to be valid for three years, or until your passport expires. 

Similar to America’s Esta system, Etias will allow citizens from 63 visa-exempt countries to visit the Schengen Area with an electronic authorisation rather than a full visa. This includes the UK, which is considered a 'third country' since Brexit. 

The launch of this system has also been postponed several times, and there is still no set launch date. The European Commission has confirmed that it expects this to happen within the last three months of 2026, and only after the launch of EES. This is because the Etias system will rely on information from EES. 

When Etias launches, there will be a ‘transition period’ of at least six months, where it will not yet be mandatory for British travellers to have an Etias when entering the EU, provided that they meet all remaining entry conditions. It's not yet clear whether travellers will need to prove that they have applied for an Etias during the grace period.

After that transition period, there will be a further grace period, during which only travellers entering the EU for the first time since the end of the transition period will be allowed to enter without an Etias. 

After that, all UK passport holders will need a visa waiver to visit any countries in Europe’s passport-free zone, the Schengen Area.

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How will travellers apply for an Etias visa waiver?

UK passport holders will have to fill in an online application form via Etias’s official website or app and upload a photo of their passport. The European Commission has promised that most travellers will receive their visa waiver within minutes. If further checks are needed, it could take up to 30 days.

Can I apply for the Etias visa waiver already?

It's not currently possible to register for an Etias travel authorisation. Confusingly, there are already several non-official websites sharing information about Etias. They may look similar to official government websites, and may offer you the opportunity to sign up for a notification when the scheme begins, but it's always best to get your information straight from the European Union website. 

Be wary of third-party sites offering to do the legwork for you, and remember that the expected fee should be €17.

When does Etias start? 

The European Commission expects the scheme to start within the last few months of 2026. Exact launch dates are yet to be confirmed.

After this date, there will be a transition period of at least six months, during which travellers are expected to have applied for an Etias before travel but won’t be refused entry without one, as long as they meet all other entry requirements. It's not clear whether travellers will be expected to prove that they have applied for an Etias.

After that, there will be another grace period, again of at least six months. During this time, only travellers entering the EU for the first time since the end of the transition period will be allowed to enter without an Etias. All other travellers will be refused entry without one.

How much will an Etias visa waiver cost?

It’s expected to cost €20 (around £17) for all travellers between the ages of 18 and 70. Children's travel authorisations will be free.

When this scheme was first proposed, the fee was set at €7 (£6), so it has since almost tripled in price. 

How long will it be valid for?

An Etias travel authorisation will be valid for three years, or until the expiry date of your passport. British passport holders can stay in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. You still need a visa for longer stays.

What is the difference between an Etias travel authorisation and a visa?

An Etias travel authorisation is not officially a visa. Its purpose is to allow the EU to keep track of visa-exempt visitors from third countries, which includes UK passport-holders since Brexit. Travellers will not need to go to a consulate to make an application, and no biometric data will be collected.

Where will I need an Etias authorisation to travel to? 

You will need the Etias visa waiver to travel to all of the below states:

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia (aka the Czech Republic), Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.

It's not currently clear whether travellers will need one to visit non-Schengen microstates such as Andorra or Monaco. 

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